The Armstrong 1-to-1 Initiative

As most of you are aware, Armstrong has a 1-to-1 iPad-to-student ratio. This has been made possible on account of the Armstrong teachers participating in two-years worth of professional development to acquire the devices. Having this kind of technology at our students’ fingertips has been a significant difference maker in their learning, but we know we face significant challenges in maintaining our 1-to-1 ratio. Within the next five years, the current devices will begin to become obsolete, and, at an overall price tag of nearly $300,000, we can’t easily refresh the current deployment.
Here are a few ways you can help us maximize technology at school:

• Bring Your Own Device – We understand this may not be an option for everybody. However, families who are able to bring their own iPads help significantly to maintain one device per student at a lower price tag and enable their own students to use the same tool at school as they do at home. With the holidays approaching, this might be a great Christmas present. If you want to BYOD, please fill out the release form in the office.
• Donate Your Previously Used Device – iPads are updated almost every year by Apple. If you upgrade your own device to a new model, and you’re not sure what to do with your old device, consider donating it to Armstrong. Every device we receive is a significant help to getting one iPad in the hands of every student.
• iPad Rental – This option won’t necessarily help us maintain the 1-to-1 ratio, but it does help us extend the instructional day for all students by allowing the iPad they use at school to go home with them afterward. After the Winter Recess, we plan to launch a rental program that, for a small insurance fee, will allow Armstrong students to take their iPads home with them in the evening.

Note: For now, Armstrong is only using iPads